A true champion would extract opportunities even when he is on the back foot and this is what Sunil Narine did with his bowling.
From being called for illegal bowling action in 2020 to being one of the most lethal weapons in Kolkata Knight Riders’ armour, from being forced to don a half-sleeve shirt instead of full to scalping 16 wickets in 14 matches in the 2021 edition, Narine just turned fortunes for himself.
Well, that’s a classic case of how champions work.
Talking about his mystery spin, the right-arm bowler revealed how he developed that art and what efforts did it take in the process.
“Yeah, it’s something I have been working on for years now. So, it’s not like it’s just yesterday. I have been working on it. I have always asked batsmen what if they see, if they don’t see,” he said in a short film “The Comeback King” that was released on Thursday.
“It’s tough knowing that the games are going on and I’m just bowling, I’m just trying to be ready for the committee to look over. My main purpose was to be ready for when that time comes and they clear it that I will be able to go out there and perform,” he added.
Former New Zealand coach and KKR head coach lavished praise on Narine and explained how it was next to impossible to negotiate such a delivery.
“The interesting thing is, I believe, that he developed this new delivery. His ability to run in with his hand behind his back. People would say we can’t play him. He’s almost too good.”
Harbhajan Singh also hailed the way Narine made a comeback and stamped his authority. “You know the champions always come back stronger.”